Senior English: This is intended as a poster for my classroom, as of this writing it’s in transit from cafepress. After I get it, I’ll still need to have it laminated before I hang it up. It’s me surrounded by representative characters from the different texts I intend to use this year, Begbie included (though he only shows up in various Irvine Welsh excerpts I like to use).
This is the latest homage I’ve done to the classic Maguire series of JLI covers. Most recently in the style we had this from Sept 09. However the colors in the villains piece have always felt over rendered. My favorite in the superhero genre were these heroes from May of 09. This June of 08 piece was my first effort.
Preview: My goal this year (teaching, yearbook, and continuing education aside) is to try and do one illustration a month. Senior English was produced largely in July, by the end of this month I hope to finish this quieter piece. I started something similar and more clichedly fieldy back in May.
Diner: Originally, there was a waitress behind the counter. She occupied the space between Superman and the donuts. At one point I had her staring at Superman, at another point looking in a quizzical bemused fashion at the Boostergold fan. Neither worked, so in the end I got rid of her.
This image was drawn up to fit in the space behind my entertainment center in my girlfriend and my apartment. It’s inspired by Rockwell’s “Runaway”.
Mystery in Space: This was drawn over the summer on and after the Fourth of July. It was done for a Drawingboard jam and features Adam and Alana Strange.
Villains: These three images don’t represent all of the art I’ve done this last year. The thing is, my art has changed. I used to rely on photo reference, this has since shifted to Poser. Likely, it’s part of this shift which has also led to my focus on Superheroes and the dwindling of my slice of life material. Though, my employment as a lit teacher has also influenced this. My old slice of life work tended to involve naked. I’ve purged all but the dearest of those pieces from the gallery.
But, I use Poser now. It’s a crutch, but it’s a crutch that’s led to the development of new skills. To draw Cheeta, I created a Body texture for a 3d figure, I created the Cheeta hat that she’s wearing and posed the figure. I sculpted the shape of the parademon’s face, and modeled his head gear. I modeled Bane and Catwoman’s masks, Captain Cold’s outfit, the Starros, sculpted Jokers face. With the exception of his, the parademon’s, Harley and Luthor’s suits, I sculpted or modeled most of the elements in this picture, to draw it accurately and realistically, I shaped it out of polygons.
I didn’t draw so much this year. But I imagine I created every bit as much.
Me and DC: I’ve had little time for myself this year. Most of the time I have had has been spent on preparing 3D reference models for later work, an effort that paid off in spades here.Still, for having had so little time to actually draw, I’m content with the progress I have made this year in many regards. While less than thrilled with Goldstar’s hair, overall, if you compare this piece to a similar one done just under a year ago, the improvements are plain to see.
Saturdays: I put a great deal of work into this, I enjoy the details, but I’m not entirely happy. I hope to attempt it again from a more dynamic angle. There’s also the issue of Barda’s right arm. It’s correct in terms of perspective, nevertheless, it feels short.
Wildcat: I began this in February for The 40’s Jam over at the drawing board. I knew at the time that with work, I wouldn’t likely have the time to do all the brickwork. Originally I wanted to do it all without taking any shortcuts. Now that summer break is about to start and the seniors have already finished school, I have more time to work on things. So I’ve been able to wrap it up. I didn’t stick true to my no shortcuts policy though. With the months that have passed, I just kind of wanted to get it done.
Starboy: This weekend I took some time for myself and did a drawing. I had originally wanted to do something with Starboy in the hospital cafeteria, hands on the glass, licking his lips as he stared at a pile of sloppy joes, but the nurses, the doctors, all the background characters would have taken more time than I had to put into place.
I first met Starboy in the pages of Justice Society of America (vol. 3). He is Thom Kallor, usually a member of the 31st century team The Legion of Superheroes. He traveled from his future to the Kingdom Come universe (recently re-created as Earth-22 at the conclusion of 52), and then to the present day. Thom claims to hear voices in his head and has been diagnosed as a borderline schizophrenic. When not performing his superheroic duties, he resides at the Sunshine Sanitarium (a mental hospital) and takes medications for his illness (both of which he does voluntarily); his favorite day at the hospital is Wednesday as that is the day sloppy joes are served (lip licking).
The Black Marvels: This was completed long enough after the other items in the June art update that I had originally intended to include it in a separate entry. Months passed before this could happen.
 |
 |
| Metropolis Heroes: Booster Gold, Superman and Supernova, flying over Metropolis. I’m not as satisfied with the halftones here as in the illustration at the bottom. Though it does have a nice eighties quality to it (ink). |
JLI: This is my dream team Justice League lineup. The central figure, Black Adam, is one of the darkest anti-heroes in the DC Canon. Just about everyone else on the page is a screwoff. I styled the image after classic League covers of the era (White Background, Early Colors).
|
Skyline: While more of a Booster Gold piece, this also serves as my third contribution to the Power Girl Jam. As I’ve gotten into the habit of over rendering all of my colors, I’m very happy as to how the relative simplicity of this color halftone turned out.
